The following theses have been submitted to the Faculty of Science Graduate Office and are available for review by any member of the University. Thesis defences at the University of Waterloo are also open to the campus community.
If you wish to attend a remote defence as an audience member please submit the form linked above. For defences that are held without public disclosure, requests must be submitted at least four business days in advance to allow adequate time for signing the required non-disclosure agreement.
Fall 2023 PhD defenses
Tuesday, December 12 at 9:00 a.m.
PhD Candidate: Kaili Tian
Title: Imaging Molecular Structures with Femtosecond Laser Pulses: Experimental Apparatus Development and Computational Geometry Reconstruction
Supervisor: Dr. Joseph Sanderson
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Location: Remote via MS TEAMS
Thursday, December 7 at 9:30 a.m.
PhD Candidate: Xin Wei
Title: Comparative analysis and visualization of microbial gene neighborhoods: applications to pathogen genomics
Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Doxey
Department: Biology
Location: Science Teaching Complex (STC), Room 2002 and Remote
Thursday, December 7 at 8:30 a.m.
PhD Candidate: Xiaoxin Chen
Title: Enhancing visual cortex plasticity through non-invasive brain stimulation
Supervisors: Dr. Ben Thompson & Dr. Bill Bobier
Department: School of Optometry and Vision Science
Location: Remote via MS TEAMS
Wednesday, December 6 at 9:00 a.m.
PhD Candidate: Bowen Zhou
Title: Modelling effects of stormwater best management practices on urban stormwater runoff phosphorus
Supervisors: Dr. Philippe Van Cappellen & Dr. Chris Parsons
Department: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Location: Optometry and Vision Science Building (OPT), Room 350 and Remote
Wednesday, December 6 at 9:00 a.m.
PhD Candidate: Tong Hong
Title: Evolution of Multi-Arc Accretion Systems: A Case Study from The Southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt, Nw China
Supervisors: Dr. Shoufa Lin & Dr. Cees van Staal
Department: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Location: Remote via MS TEAMS
Friday, December 1 at 2:00 p.m.
PhD Candidate: Amber Hollinger
Title: Assessing the Accuracy of Cosmological Parameters Estimated from Velocity – Density Comparisons
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Hudson
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Location: Physics Building (PHY), Room 352 and Remote
Tuesday, November 28 at 9:30 a.m.
PhD Candidate: Benjamin Jenkins
Title: Characterization of Novel Protease Flagellinolysin in Psuedoalteromonas tunicata
Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Doxey
Department: Biology
Location: Biology 1 Building (B1), Room 266
Monday, November 6 at 3:00 p.m.
PhD Candidate: Luke Menezes
Title: Investigation of Crystal Structures and Ultra-Low Thermal Conductivities in Novel Group 14 and 15 Chalcogenides
Supervisor: Dr. Holger Kleinke
Department: Chemistry
Location: Chemistry 2 Building (C2), Room 361 and Remote
Thursday, October 26 at 2:00 p.m.
PhD Candidate: Melissa Henderson
Title: Neutron Scattering Investigations of Three-Dimensional Topological States
Supervisor: Dr. Dmitry Pushin
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Location: Physics Building (PHY), Room 352 and Remote
Wednesday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m.
PhD Candidate: Nanqin MEI
Title: The Role of Melatonin in Amyloid Interactions with the Model Neuronal Membranes
Supervisor: Dr. Zoya Leonenko
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Location: Physics Building (PHY), Room 352
Fall 2023 MSc defences
Wednesday, November 29 at 9:30 a.m.
MSc Candidate: Anjali Krishna
Title: Analysis of Cyanobacteria and its Abundance in the Turkey Lakes Watershed using Molecular Techniques
Supervisor: Dr. Kirsten Müller
Department: Biology
Location: Math & Computer (MC) Building, Room 4063
Monday, October 30 at 2:00 p.m.
MSc Candidate: Laiba Qadeer
Title: Hydride Generation as a Sample Introduction Technique for Detection of Arsenic by Micro Plasma
Supervisor: Dr. Vassili Karanassios
Department: Chemistry
Location: Chemistry 2 Building (C2), Room 278
Monday, October 16 at 10:00 a.m.
MSc Candidate: Zachary Adam
Title: The Role of Transverse Faults in Late Gold Mineralization: A Structural Study of the Maskinonge Lake Fault, Michipicoten Greenstone Belt, Ontario
Supervisors: Dr. Shoufa Lin & Dr. Chris Yakymchuk
Department: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Location: Remote via MS TEAMS
Wednesday, October 11 at 2:00 p.m.
MSc Candidate: Scott Johnstun
Title: Techniques for Improving Numerical Secret Key Rates of Quantum Key Distribution Protocols
Supervisor: Dr. Norbert Lütkenhaus
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Location: Quantum Nano Centre (QNC), Room 2101 & Remote